A$$i$tant Secretary 1200 New Jersey Avenue;se U.S. Department WashinglOn. DC 20590 of Transportation 

Office of the Secretory 

01 Transportation APR 3 0 2010 

The Honorable Carlos Alvarez 

Mayor ofMiami-Dade County . ',.'" 	 ::7:)::;?,f 

Miami;FL 33128-1994 >,.,;..) 	 :~.;~? ~.;~~;: : ',--1'('/:) 

c~;~~~s :,:.,::? Dear Mayor Alvarez: 	 :i~ -4 

Thank you for your letter supportingth~.application for antitrust immunity filed bYA~erican~:@ Airlines and Japan Airlines. I am responding on behalfofthe Secretary. 

As you may know, the applicants-me,mbers of the oneworld Alliance-are seeking antitrust 

immunity to closely coordinate flights between the United States and Asia. According to the 

application, the alliance pBrtners plan to launch a joint venture for transpacific traffic. 

The application is administered in a public docket, which ensures that interested parties have the 

opportunity to comment. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate the 

application according to rigorous statutory standards. beginning with a review ofthe record to 

determine ifit is substantially complete. Decisions on the application are made in consultation 

with the U.S. Department ofJustice's Antitrust Division following a thorough analysis of 

competitive factors...As this matter is now pending, I hope you understand·that I cannot 

comment on the merits ofthe application. I can assure you, however. that DOT will give full 

and fair consideration to the application as well as any comments filed in the docket. 

As is our normal practice. I am placing a copy ofyour letter and this response in Docket 

DOT-OST-20 I0-0059 as a contact outside the record in this matter. I appreciate your interest in 

this proceeding. 

Sincerely yours. 
-

S I 0-100324-005 


OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 


MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA 


CARlos ALvAREz 

MAYOR 

March 17, 2010 

The Honorable Raymond H. LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Docket DOT-OST-201~ 

Dear Mr. Secretary: 

As Mayor and on behalf of the 2.4 million resldentsof Miami-Dade County, I want to thank you 

for the opportunity to express our support for the application for antitrust immunity and proposed 

joint business agreement filed by American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The proposed alliance 

between these two airlines Is Vital for to compete. effectively with the Star and 

SkyTeam alliance. This increased Inter-alllaillnPetitlon will in turn enhance the benefits of 

the Department's Open Skies policy - first by solidifying U.S.-Japan Open Skies, then by 

serving as a foundation for further liberalization across ASia. 

We encourage the Department Of Transportation to approve this application as itwould enable 

these oneworld alliance airlines to work ctosely together to deliver highly competitive air 

transportation service.. Approval for AAIJAL alliance will have a positive impact on air travel by 

offering customers more service, scheduling and pricing options ·and will help to ensure that 

customers continue to benefit from having three competitive air alliances to chOose from. 

One out of every four jobS in our community is supported by Miami International Airport. 

Additionally, a8 the· hOme of the number two airport In the nation for International passengers, 

we believe the approval· of this alliance will facilitate travel and trade between the Americas and 

Asia. This wHi stimulate greater economic growth during these tough economic times. 

I urge you to quickly approve this application. 

Sincerely, 

carlos 

G~~ 

Alvarez 

Mayor 

STEPHEN P. ClARK CENTER. 111 N.W. FIRST STREET, SUITE 2910, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128-1994 '13051375-5071 . FAX (305) 375-3618 
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S 1 0-091231-003 

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi 

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